Wrapper for hams.



No. 648,768. l APa'wntd may l, |900.

w. E. T.4 MERRILL.

wnAPPEn FojHAms -(Applicaiiian led June 6,. 1899;)`

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENTY trici-5,

WRAPPER FOR HAIVIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 648,768, dated. May 1, 1900..`

Application led June 6, 1899. Serial No. 719,603. (No model.)y

T0 (all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. T. MER- BILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Ham-Retainers, of which the following is a specilcation.

My invention is a wrapper or cover adapted for use in boiling boneless hams and is intended to provide a casing or covering for the ham to prevent loss of substance and llavor and to overcome the objections to these wrappers, which as heretofore made have either been held around the ham by cords or else by a method of lacing.

In carrying out my invention I use a cover for the ham made up of a rectangular bodypiece with triangular-shaped extensions projecting from the four sides of the body-piece. These extensions are free from cords or fastenings of any kind, and in order to hold the cover in place I use metal retaining-clips, which are adapted to engage the ends of opposite projections when brought together and lock the same in place. The retaining-clips also serve to tighten the casing or covering around the ham.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the casing or covering in plan. Fig. 2 shows it in use, and Fig. 3 is a detail view, detached, of the fastening-clip.

As shown in the drawings, the covering is composed of a central piece A and four triangular pieces projecting from the sides or edges thereof, as at b. I may make these triangular pieces of equal or varying lengths, according to the necessities of the case. In applying the casing I bring the ends of the opposite parts b on each side together and engage these ends by rolling them around the part c of a jointed locking-bar, this bar consisting of two members c and d, pivoted together at e. I utilize the longervmember c to engage the ends of the opposite parts b, and I roll these ends together around the locking-bar until the casing is suiiiciently tight. I then force the short member d around upon the material, bringing the short member on top of the face of the longer member, and as the material of the covering thus comes between the adjacent faces of the bar it will be seen that there will .be sufficient tension to lock the bar in place, and the thickness of the fabric will keep it in place. The opposite ends of the other parts b are brought together in a like manner, thus completely inclosingthe ham, and it is ready for boiling. The effect of the boiling islto shrink the ham, while as it cools it will enlarge or expand again.

With my present invention I prevent the expansion, and thus get a more compact product, for as soon as the ham has been boiled sufficiently it is removed, and the slackness in the covering caused by the shrinking of the ham I immediately take up by giving a y turn or two to the locking-bar.

My casing being entirely free from all fastening devices is adapted for continuous use, and there is no liability of its getting out of order, While the fastening devices are of the simplest character.

What I claim is- 1. A wrapper for hams and the like consisting of a plain flexible covering having body portion and extensions adapted to fold toward each other in combination with a clip composed of two parts, upon one of which the extensions are wrapped, the other part of the clip being adapted to be turned to lock the clip and the extensions in place, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the wrapper composed of the central part A and the four triangular pieces projecting therefrom, in combination with the locking-bar consisting of two members pivoted together, the parts being constructed and operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. T. MERRILL.

ViLnesses:

ELIZABETH C. WEAVER, WM. L. WEAvER, 

